Mail-box.



PATEXITEF WAY 2%, N05.

J. M. PETERSON:

MAIL BOX. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 14 1905.

[NI 111x 20];

I 1}) all whom it may concern:

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE." JOHN M. PETERSON, or cbLEGROVE, magnum.

MAIL-BOX- i l i i Ifatented May 29. 1906.

Application filed December 14,1905! SerialNo. 291.751.

, Be it known that I, JOHN MQPETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residin at Colegrove, in the county of McKean an State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Mail-Box, of which the specification. v

This invention relates to sheet-metal receptacles, and has for its object to provide a receptacle embodying new and improved means for opening and closing the cover;

It is well known that rural mail-carriers following is a areobliged at certain times to wear stifi and mail-box, it may be applied; to a large variety of other purposes with equally satisfactory results. g

' With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being under stood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor detailsmay b'emade within the; scope of the claims withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad-.

' vantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved mail-box open. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the mail-box as on theline' indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawmgs.

In its preferred embodiment the improved mail-box forming the subject-matter of this application comprises a box or receptacle 10 of any approved pro ortion and having a closure or cover 1175 any approved form, but pr e i e ably semicylindrical, as shown, and hinged, as at 12 and 13. At each longitudi-- nal edge the closure is provided with a channel or gutter 14 to prevent the entry of rain, and along the transverse edges the closure is provided with slots 15.

Upon the ends of the box are fulcrumed the boll-crank levers 16, as by the pivots 17. One arm of the lever 16 has a hook 18 enclosure, as shown. Alon posted therein and closes the cover. curved rod 30 contacting with the strip 34 gaged withinthe slot 15 and so positioned that, a movement of the lever opens the box a rock-bar 19 is journa ed, asby the clips 20, and with arms 21 at each end bent ,at right angles and spaced to move in juxtaposition to the ends of the box. The arms 21 are connected with the bell-crank lever 16 by the links 22 in such manner that a rockin movement of the rock-bar 19 opens an closes the cover. At its middle the rock-bar is provided with a rigid operating-lever 23, terminating in a.handle 24' and adapted to embrace the staple 25, to which may be applied a lock, as 26, to lock the box.

the front of the At one end of the cover a lever 27 is piv- 'oted, as at 28, and provided at its extremity with a target 29 of any ap roved form. Within the cover a curved rod 30 is rigidly connected with and capable of operating the pivot upon which is carried the target-lever.

Within the box and at the end to which the target is pivoted a letter-tray 31 is hinged, as at 32, and provided with a 8 ring' catch 33, arranged to snap over the e ge of the box and'hold the tray ina nearly horizontal and operative position Along one side the letter-tray carries a broad stripor frame-piece 34, positioned when raised in the path of and to operate the curved bar 30 to raise the target. The letter-tray'is also pro: vided with a resilient letter-clip 35, so curved that a letter, as 36, therein is held away from and at an angle to the tray.

In operation the person servedraises the letter-tray and places mail-matter to he raises the target, and thereby notifies the carrier that the box contains mail to be collected.

The carrier presses downwardly on the hen v die 24, which through the medium of the link and bell-crank lever raises the cover. The

carrier takes the letter and pushes on catch 33, which releases the letter-tray, so that it swings down to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. After depositing the mail, if any for the box, he closes the cover either by grasping the cover itself or lifting on the han- The maitbox, it will be found serviceable for a large variety ol other purposes and may be made in any size applicable to the particular purpose for which it is designed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A receptacle provided with a hinged cover, a bell-crank lever pivoted upon the end of the receptacle with one arm in slidable engagement with and to operate the cover, a rock-shaft journaled longitudinally upon the front of the receptacle and having an angularly-disposed arm extending rez-nwardly at the end, a link connecting the end ol the arm and the lever and a handle rigid with and to operate the shalt.

2. A mail-box comprising a receptacle, a cover for the rec-(mtaclc, a target pivoted to the end and disposed without and with a curved bar within the cover a. letter-tray hinged within the receptacle and a catch car- 'ried by the tray to secure the tray in operative position and in the path of the curved rod and to raise the target.

3. in a mall-box, the combination with a receptacle having a cover movably connected thereto, of a target mounted upon the cover, a letter-tray within the receptacle and means for locking the tray in position to actuate the target when the cover is closed.

4. .In a mail-box, the combination with a receptacle and a cover movably com'iected thereto; of a target pivoted upon the cover, a rod movable with the target and extending into the cover, a tray within the receptacle and means for locking the tray in the path of the rod to actuate the target.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto allixcd my signature in the presence ol' two witnesses,

Witnesses:

Evunnrr E. Eiinuioon, l5. lC. (hmnnm'. 

